The True Buddha Nichiren Daishonin writes in the Gosho, The true aspect of all phenomena; " Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase." Although the Gosho reads "Teach others to the best of your ability only a Priest or Ikeda can lecture on the profound Buddhist teachings. This is Japanese domination and this contradicts the Gosho.
In 2003 I stood on the floor a the Nichiren Shoshu Head Buddhist Temple in Taisekiji Japan and I challenged the young Japanese Priest to respect and learn about African/American culture. Many Japanese Buddhist disrespect Black People. The culture of African/American people does not manifest from the Japanese dominate mindset and culture as taught in America
The Gosho on "
Repaying debts of gratitude
" reads;" If one hopes to learn and master Buddhism, then one cannot do so without devoting time to the task. And if one wants to have time to spend on the undertaking, one cannot continue to wait on one’s parents, one’s teachers, and one’s sovereign. Until one attains the road that leads to emancipation, one should not defer to the wishes and feelings of one’s parents and teachers, no matter how reasonable they may be".
Nichiren Daishonin states in the Gosho
“Three Kinds of Treasure,”
"More valuable than treasures in a storehouse are the treasures of the body, and the treasures of the heart are the most valuable of all".
A people's culture is a "Treasure of the Heart." In order for Buddhism to touch the heart of Black people in America, Buddhism must be taught in America in a way that integrates and respect the culture of Black people. Instead of the profound teachings of Buddhism adapting to the culture of Black people in America, Black people are expected to adapt to the culture of Japanese people in Japan. Buddhism in America posses a Black cultural void. As a result you will find void of strong African/Americans males, no Black scholars or society leaders engaged in the Buddhist religion in America. The Japanese dominance in Buddhism in America is outright "Un- American." African/Americans stop letting "Japanese Dominate you in America." Demand equality and Justice in Buddhism in America. This is the American way. We are Americans we must follow the "American Way."
Buddhism culturally in America must reach a 21st Century paradigm. A Black man is President of the United States of America, twice, the most powerful man in the world. If a Black man can lead the governing of a nation, certainly we Black people in America can culturally teach Buddhism in a way that brings pride, dignity and self-respect to our nation. The idea of Black people "Punking Out" in 2013 is unacceptable. Buddhist history is Black History. The Africans of Asia started Buddhism. The Buddha Shakyamuni was Black man. In America Japanese ethos dominate Buddhism.
The True Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin is Universal Religion and not the Japanese model we see in America
